Beloit man killed in traffic crash after fleeing from police

A 22-year-old Beloit man is dead after crashing his vehicle while fleeing from police.

According to a news release, a Beloit Police officer attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding in the area of Fourth Street and Portland Avenue just after 2:00 on Sunday morning. The vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed, and the officer did not pursue it, which is department policy for lower level offenses. The suspect vehicle continued at a high rate of speed, ran through a stop sign at Roosevelt Avenue and Bluff Street, and crashed into another vehicle that was headed northbound, before striking a utility pole.

Both occupants of the suspect vehicle were ejected during the crash. The driver, 22-year-old Adrian R. Taylor was pronounced dead at a local hospital, while the 22-year-old female passenger was critically injured.

The two occupants of the other vehicle were not hurt, although their vehicle was heavily damaged.